1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in chasing
to move fast enough to get even with
despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2025
The decision by the Baltimore Orioles to sign top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to an eight-year contract extension may signal that the organization is looking to move Adley Rutschman in an offseason trade.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Adam England, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
On the first power play, Buium missed the net on one chance, tried to go one-on-one with no support from his teammates and slipped coming over the blue line for a turnover and soon after missed catching a drop pass.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
In all of them, Redford does much of his own riding, wing walking, throwing, catching, and hitting.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2025
The decision by the Baltimore Orioles to sign top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to an eight-year contract extension may signal that the organization is looking to move Adley Rutschman in an offseason trade.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
After the event, footage of Speights catching the bouquet and Harden’s subsequent reaction went viral.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
On the first power play, Buium missed the net on one chance, tried to go one-on-one with no support from his teammates and slipped coming over the blue line for a turnover and soon after missed catching a drop pass.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
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The first band to sign with MASS MoCA Records is the infectious, awesome Kasambwe Brothers.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
-
All that behind a gorgeous smile, razor sharp wit and infectious laugh.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
This could mean opting for non-cocoa items or grabbing a treat with filler that is not 100% cocoa.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Reconciliation is as natural as conflict — but pacifism, or being completely unwilling to defend yourself, while aiming for peace as an end, provides no means of getting there.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Talks between North Kansas City and the Royals to build a new ballpark there appear to be getting more serious as the mayor says the city is working out the framework of a deal.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The metro Detroit rallies have advocated for causes including stopping immigration crackdowns, stopping authoritarianism, health care, maintaining a positive relationship with Canada amid tariffs, declaring Detroit a sanctuary city, stopping deaths in Gaza and more.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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Nihi has 25 of Sumba’s beloved sandalwood horses, released from their stable once a day to run free through the shallows, stopping to roll around in the sand and nip at each other.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The 23-year-old winger clinched the Johnny Warren Medal, awarded to the division’s best player, after scoring 12 goals, just one short of securing him a share of the golden boot.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Comfortable travel can be achieved with stretchy, breathable pants, but securing a pair that hits those marks while looking stylish can be tough.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Minnesota went into the bye week knowing how pressing this concern was.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
-
There’s no question that the younger generation has brought their own approach to office life—prioritizing mental health, flexible scheduling, and work-life balance—and are even getting fired for not knowing how to act workplace-appropriate.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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How to protect yourself from AI phishing scams AI phishing scams rely on tricking people into trusting what looks and sounds real.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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Wire fraud in real estate involves scammers tricking buyers or sellers into sending money to fraudulent accounts.—
Collyn Wainwright,
Nashville Tennessean,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After encountering an old friend, Colette, embarrassed about her friend’s success compared to her own, pretends to be a customer at the DMV instead of an employee.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
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In addition to the premiere dates, a teaser trailer also gives audiences a tantalizing glimpse at Luke Thompson‘s Benedict encountering his love interest Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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